Horace e



H. E. WHITLOCK.

SUPPORTING BLOCK. Fon CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2l, 19|?.

Patented Dee. 23, 1919.

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i Specification of Letters Batent. i Patented Dec.` 23, 1919.

Application filed March 21, 1917. Serial No. 156,254.

To all whom t may concern y Be it known that l, Hormon E. lWinrLooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county ot Franklin and State ot Ohio, have` invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting- Blocks for Cameras, otwhich the tollowing is a specilication.

This invention blocks for cameras and is designed tor use particularly in connection with tripods now manufactured and od'eied tor sale for this purpose. Ottentiines the photographer tinds himself in positions where it is impractical to use a tripod, because of the angularity required of the camera, and for this purpose, clamps ot various kinds have been perfected, these clamps being attachable to y almost any convenient support. My invention contemplates the provision oit a supporting block for use in connection with a tripod, whereby the camera may be either attached directly to the block, or, wherein the supporting clamp may be attached to the block and the camera then supported from it. This latter arrangement permits the camera assuming any desired angularity and at the same time, also permits the use of a tripod. Should it be desired to remove the camera and clamp, this may be readily done without dismantling the tripod itself.

The preferred embodiment of my inven tion is shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 shows the upper portion of a tripod in side elevation with my improved type of block applied thereto, but shown in cross section, the supporting clamp and camera being shown in dotted outline,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that the camera is shown dotted in its applied position directly to the supporting block, and,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view ot the supporting blocks shown in Figs. 1 and 2. V

In the drawings, the tripod is shown as comprising a purality of leOs 1 pivotally attached in any desired manner to the tripod head 2. These heads oit these tripods are usually provided with an upwardly extending screw 3 onto which the camera is usually secured, the undersides ot' these cameras bef ing provided with threaded openings for relates to supporting this purpose. It is to this attachment screw 3 that my improved type of block is at tached. This block is designated by the ret erence numeral l and, as shown, is provided with a threaded opening 5 in its underside,4

which opening tits the screw 3. A screw 6 projects upwardly from the upper side ot the supporting block and is held in position by means of the screw 7 threaded into the screw 6 from the top ot the threaded opening 5, as is shown particularly clearly in Figs. l and 2. This screw 6 is ofthe same type as that shown at 3 and, therefore, forms the ready means ot direct attachment to a camera. The block itself is 'formed to present a. pair of faces 3 inclined downwardly toward each other, which forms the means by which the clamp shown dotted at 9, may be attached. The prongs oi these clamps are usually inclined slightly as is shown and it is for this reason that the faces 8 are also inclined. The inclination of the faces 8 is such as to prevent a. clamp connected there with from being accidentally displaced by an undue upward movement. The block may be out any desired shape, although I prefer to also form it with the shoulder portions 10 so that the clamp is prevented from tilting as much as is possible. This clamp is formed ot the two arms held together by means of the screw l1 and nut 12 operating against the tension of the spring 13. At its upper end, this clamp carries a ball 1d having a screw 15 projecting upwardlytherefrom, which screw is also ot a form similar to that shown at 3 and thus, it therefore permits the direct application of a camera 16 thereto.

In use, my block is threaded onto the screw 3 usually formed in connection with the head ot a tripod. Should Ait then be desired to mount the camera, so that it will assume various angles, the clamp 9 is applied as shown in Fig. 1 and the camera applied to this clamp as is also shown in dotted outline. Should it' not be desired to use the clamp, the camera may be applied 'directly to the screw 6 carried by the upper side of the block. Thus, it will be apparent that T may mount the camera either by the use of the clamp or not, but without removing the block trom the tripod itself. When this block is used, and after it has been once applied, it practically forms a permanent part of the tripod itself, but permits the use ot either a clamp or the'ineans `for directly applying the camera to the tripod.

-What I claim is: Y

l. Thecombinatio'nl with Va tripod, of a block removably secured tothe head of said f tripod, said block being` formed on opposite .s

sides with downwardly convergent yfaces to l acilitate'thev attachment of a camera supupward projecting screw in the head of said tripod, of a block having a threaded opening- '1n lts lower side for thevreceptlon of said screw, said block beingfformed with diametrically opposed recessesto'facilitate the attachment of a camera supporting clamp thereto, and a'screw projecting out oit' the top' of the block to provide means for dil rectly securino' a camera to said block.

' 3. The conibination with a tripod, of a block removably connected with the head of said tripod, said block being formed on Y opposite sides with shouldered clamp receiving recesses, the latter having the inner faces 'thereof' inclined downwardly toward each f other, and means projecting upwardly from the block t0 provide means for directly securing acamerato said block.

4. The combination with a tripod, of a camera supporting member carried by the upper end of the tripod, said member having a plurality oi opposed clamp receiving recessesformed therein, and said recesses having'the inner walls thereof inclined downwardly and inwardly to facilitate the attachment of a camera supporting clamp to said member.

5. The combination with ay tripod and an upwardly projecting screw in the head ot said tripod, of a block having` a threaded opening in its underside to tit said screw, said block being formed on opposite sidesl with faces to facilitate the clamping attach- V.ient oi a camera supporting clamp, and a screw projecting` out from the top ot said block to provide means for directly securing` a camera to said block.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE wHrrLooK.

Witnesses C. C. SHEPHERD, VALTER E. L. Boon. 

